Pour Favor finds spring in a glass at Ball Square Fine Wines

Monday

Mar 30, 2009 at 12:01 AMMar 30, 2009 at 1:54 PM

Spring has sprung! And in the wine world that means “anything goes,” says Dan Lech, Wine Manager at Ball Square Fine Wines in Somerville. How so? Well, Lech argues this time of year “is more transitional than other seasons because we’re all looking forward to the end of winter and willing to try a vibrant white; but, there are still enough 30 degree days here in New England where a glass of red wine is the only thing to really warm you up.”

Rebecca Rethore

Rebecca Rethore, Somerville’s own small business owner and wine blogger at Pour Favor, pops over every Monday to give Wicked Local readers a taste of what's what in the wine world. She specializes in making wine simply approachable and fun. It's just what she does: Happiness Uncorked!

Spring has sprung! And in the wine world that means “anything goes,” says Dan Lech, Wine Manager at Ball Square Fine Wines in Somerville. How so? Well, Lech argues this time of year “is more transitional than other seasons because we’re all looking forward to the end of winter and willing to try a vibrant white; but, there are still enough 30 degree days here in New England where a glass of red wine is the only thing to really warm you up.”

I couldn’t agree more. Spring in New England is a paradox more so than in other parts of the country. We never know what we’re going to get as far as weather goes. And there are no national holidays or major sporting traditions to gear up for, either. The Super Bowl is already behind us and the Stanley Cup is far enough in front of us there’s not much to keep the pages of the calendar turning.

So what’s a Beantown Wine Buyer to do? “Experiment! Find unique selections to excite your customers. Make wine the reason to celebrate,” suggests Lech. Ball Square Fine Wines uses their weekly Friday night wine tastings to debut such finds. And by the number of folks that descend on the tiny shop each week from 4:30 – 7:30pm, it seems Lech and the rest of the staff is on to something.

If you’ve ever been to Ball Square for one of these intimate tastings, you’ve probably noticed the upbeat group of 20 and 30-somethings crowding the doorway. Lech says it’s these folks that really get him excited about what he does. “Our customers are interested in exploring wines. They haven’t gotten into any established buying patterns or ruts. If we find something we like, our customers are up for it. They trust us.” Services rendered based on uniquely individual tastes and preferences can be tricky to navigate. But by Lech’s account, it seems the mutual respect staff and customers share is what makes this fine wines shop so unique – and successful.

When I asked Lech to pick a few wines we might enjoy this spring he had a few ideas in mind. Starting with the whites, he recommended the 2007 Slingshot Sauvignon Blanc ($17.99), describing it as delivering “apricot, melon and minerals”. When I tasted it, I had to agree this is a good pick for spring! It has a nice grassy component as well and a nice bit of grapefruit and lemon – refreshing as the days get warmer. But the melon and apricot flavors were warming, too – perfect when there’s still a nip in the air.

Lech also picked the value-oriented 2007 Keesha Pinot Grigio ($8.99). Pinot Grigio is something a lot of folks flock to in the warmer months, but Dan’s argument for this one as a spring wine in particular was because it is so unique. He told me it is “crafted by an American winemaker out of Hungarian grapes – and the result is worth shouting about!”

For the reds, he picked a wine I quite love – and argued not too long ago was actually a terrific “winter warmer”: the 2006 Etim Selection ($15.99). It is a blend of Grenache, Carignan and Syrah. Dan’s thoughts? “The Etim is a great example of us finding a terrific wine from a lesser known region [Montsant, Spain], which our customers readily embraced as a favorite, too.”

Dan’s last pick was the 2005 Mattei Barbera ($12.99), another great offering I’ve had the pleasure of sampling. He was so excited about this one he sent me his tasting notes: “Italian red wines are wonderful with food but rarely serve as good "cocktail" wines. This cheery red is a notable exception. Pure red berries abound with a subtle herbal complement. Medium bodied with light, fine tannins and modest acidity this can be enjoyed all by its lonesome or with pizza, pasta or hard cheeses.”

Head on over to Ball Square Fine Wines to check out these wines for yourself! Or make your own inquiry and see if the Ball Square Fine Wines team can’t find something else you might enjoy.

Wicked Local Somerville

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.